Author Archives: dcaligari

December 13, 1975 –Richard Pryor hosted NBC-TV’s Saturday Night Live on this date. Fearing Pryor would say things that were too offensive for television at the time, the show was placed on seven-second delay for the very first time As mentioned in the opening sketch, Pryor requested that Garrett Morris say “Live from New York,Continue reading “I can remember seeing this show when it first aired”

December 13, 1956 –The comeback film for Ingrid Bergman, Anastasia, co-starring Yul Brynner, Helen Hayes, and Akim Tamiroff opened in the US, on this date. This movie was based on the story of Anna Anderson, a woman who claimed to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia. It was later discovered that, in fact, she was notContinue reading “Anastasia premiered”

December 12, 1980 –Whip It earned Devo a gold record on this date. It is the first distinction of its kind for any song about masturbation to earn a gold record. Well, whip it good! When MTV launched in 1981, they had very few videos to choose from. Some European and Australian artists had beenContinue reading “No, the song is not about masturbation”

December 12, 1966 – Supermarionation was on full display when Thunderbirds are GO, based on the successful TV series, was released in the UK on this date. While the film received good reviews, it was not a box office success. The first feature film to be shot using the Livingston Electronic Viewfinder Unit, also knownContinue reading “Thunderbirds are GO premiered”

(It might give them ideas.)December 12, 1954BBC Television aired the landmark adaptation of George Orwell’sNineteen Eighty-Four on this date. It was the most expensive drama produced to date. Unusually for a British TV production of that era, this story survives as a telerecording. At the time, the majority of television was transmitted live, and mostContinue reading “Thank God they don’t read in DC –”

ACME would like to bring you another in a series of holiday safety tips: Holiday tip No. 195 – Giants monsters are attracted to bright lights and decorations, so please turn off your lights and stay inside!

December 12, 1531–It’s the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, an indigenous peasant, had visions of the Virgin Mary. Legend held that the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego outside Mexico City and left an imprint on his cactus-fiber poncho. The poncho became an icon for the Virgin of Guadalupe. It’s earlyContinue reading “That’s why all those folks were standing out in the cold this morning”

December 12, 1968 –Here’s a rule I recommend: Never practice two vices at once. After a long and well enjoyed life, Tallulah Bankhead died in St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City of double pneumonia, complicated by emphysema and malnutrition, on this date. Her last coherent words reportedly were “Codeine… bourbon.” (I absolutely will beContinue reading “Tallulah Bankhead”

December 11, 1967 –The Beatles’ Apple Music signs its first group – Grapefruit, on this date. With unwise business decisions like this, I’m sure the Beatles must have gone broke very shortly after this.

December 11, 1968 – Filming begins on The Rolling Stones‘ Rock And Roll Circus movie. Conceived by Mick Jagger, the event was comprised of two concerts on a circus stage and included such acts as John Lennon and his fiancée Yoko Ono performing as part of a supergroup called The Dirty Mac, along with EricContinue reading “It took almost 30 years to debut”